Device for measurement of the wet-temperature of the air in a steam bath

ABSTRACT

A device for measuring the wet temperature of the air particularly in a steam bath comprising a frame mounting a thermometer and a water container on a room wall, a wet sock or wick connects the water container to the measuring end of the thermometer and this measuring end and wet sock project into a vertically extending channel through which the room air flows. The water container extends into this same channel in order to create a throttling space near the measuring end to accelerate the velocity of the air passing through the channel and that area.

United States Patent Inventor Erkki Ail-ms Melojantie 2A, Helsinki 20,Finland Appl. No. 805,633 Filed Mar. 10, 1969 Patented June 8, I971Priority Mar. 11, 1968 Finland 654/68 DEVICE FOR MEASUREMENT OF THE WET-TEMPERATURE OF THE AIR IN A STEAM BATH 2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 73/338 Int. Cl G0ln 25/62 Field of Search 73/338.6,

[56} References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,620,864 3/1927 Benesh73/338.6 2,107,077 2/1938 Magner 73/338.6

Primary Examiner-Louis R. Prince Assistant ExaminerDenis E. CorrAttorney-Stevens, Davis, Miller & Mosher ABSTRACT: A device formeasuring the wet temperature of the air particularly in a steam bathcomprising a frame mounting a thermometer and a water container on aroom wall, a wet sock or wickconnects the water container to themeasuring end of the thermometer and this measuring end and wet sockproject into a vertically extending channel through which the room airflows. The water container extends into this same channel in order tocreate a throttling space near the measuring end to accelerate thevelocity of the air passing through the channel and that area.

The present invention concerns a measuring device particularly for steambaths for measuring the wet temperature of the air. It comprises a framecarrying a thermometer and a water container, a wet sock, which connectsthe measuring end of the thermometer with the water container and amainly vertical channel for the flow of surrounding air and into whichthe thermometer end with its wet sock extends.

The device is intended for use in steam baths for determining the mostsuitable bathing conditions from a heatphysiological point of view. Themeasuring of the heat in steam baths is now generally done by measuringonly the dry temperature of the bath room air. The hcat-physicalogicalcffeets of the bathing depends, however, decidedly also on the humidityof steam room air.

There are several previously known devices for measurc ment of thetemperature of humid air. When measuring the wet-temperature with athermometer the thermometer bulb is provided with a so-called wet sockand the velocity of the air at the thermometer bulb should be greaterthan a certain minimum velocity in order to obtain reliable results inpractice. On this account it has been necessary to provide the devicewith a small blower which creates the required air velocity or to swingthe device in the air to create the air velocity effect in question.Naturally, the use of a blower makes the device expensive and theswinging of the device by hand is tedious.

The aim of the present invention is to avoid these inconveniences and tocreate a measuring device which does not require the-use of a specialblower or the swinging of the gauge but still gives enough reliableenough measurements This is achieved with the present invention byhaving the airflow channel located inside the frame and directly insidethe sidewall which rests against the bath room wall. In order to createthe required air velocity past the thermometer end for measuring of thewet temperature the vertical airflow along the wall is throttled at aknown proper throttling point.

The measuring device according to this invention takes advantage of thedownwardly flowing air along the bathroom walls during heating. It hasbeen observed, that by a suitable design of the frame of the measuringdevice it is possible to secure proper functioning of the measuringdevice from the downwardly flowing air in sufficient quantity and withsufficient speed past the thermometer end. By locating the throttlingpoint in the airflow channel at the measuring end of the thermometer thespeed of the air can be accelerated, thus insuring that a sufficient airspeed is obtained past the thermometer measuring end even when thedevice is mounted on a wall along whichsaid downward flow is weakest.

The invention is described in the following in more detail withreference to accompanying drawings. Because a wet-temperature measuringdevice according to this invention is in practice generally usedtogether with a thermometer for measuring the dry temperature (in orderto obtain a complete picture of the bathing conditions), the embodimentof the inventive idea is pictured as a combined dryand wet-temperaturemeasuring device.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a front view ofthe measuring device,

FIG. 2 shows a section along the line lI-Il in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 shows a section along the line III-III in FIG. 1, and

FIG. 4 shows a section along the line lV-lV in FIG. 3.

The measuring device pictured in the drawings comprises a sheet metalframe 1, which is given a boxlike shape with rectangular cross sectionand open longitudinal ends thus forming a flow channel 2. To the frontside of the frame is attached on one side a thermometer 3 for measuringthe dry temperature of the air and on the opposite side a thermometer 4for measuring the wet temperature of the air. The lower parts 5 and 6 ofboth thermometers 3 and 4, which act as measuring ends, are bentbackwards to extend through holes in the frontplate and behind it toproject into the flow channel, as is best seen in FIG. 2.

The measuring end 6 of the wet-temperature thermometer 4 is covered by awetting element, a wet sock 7. A supporting element 8 is attached to therear side of the front plate in the middle of the flow channel forcarrying the water container 9 of plastic material. In the uppersidewall of the water container is a hole I0 to permit entry of the wetsock and in the front wall of said container is a hole I1 opposite anopening 12 in the front wall of the frame allowing the filling of thecontainer with water.

Thus, the measuring end 6 of the wet thermometer 4 with the wet sock 7is located in the flow channel 2, which directs the downwardly flowingair which is moving along the bathroom wall without obstruction intocontact with the measuring end of the thermometer 4. Due to the featurethat the water container is located in the flow channel a throttlingspace 2' is created at the thermometer measuring end and thusaccelerates the air speed at this point. Because a continuous heatconsuming evaporation occurs from the water container the sidewalls ofthe container are kept cooler than the air, further boosting theacceleration of the flow. Thus the creation and the maintenance of theair speed is secured to insure the proper function of the measuringdevice.

As shown in the FIGS. 2 and 4, the measuring end of the wet thermometer4 with its wet sock is located below the water surface in the container.This arrangement provides the advantage that the wet sock iscontinuously sucking water from the container, and this water isdripping off the measuring end and is thus rinsing the wet sock toremove salts gathered on it from the container water. This allows theuse of ordinarywater instead of distilled without notable disadvantage.

In the pictured embodiment a diagram 13 is attached to the front surfaceof the device, enabling observation of the dry and wet temperatures todetermine the prevailing bathing conditions and the necessity ofsuitable regulation.

The drawings and the description are only intended to illus trate apreferred embodiment of the invention. The scope of the invention is, ofcourse, only limited by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A device for measuring the wet temperature of air, particularly in asteam bath, comprising:

a. a frame having at least a front face, and two sidewall portions, saidframe adapted for mounting on a wall so that the sidewall portionsmaintain the front face in spaced relationship from the wall, said framecarrying a thermometer and a water container within the area between thefront face and the wall;

b. a substantially vertical airflow channel bordered by the front faceand said sidewall portions;

c. a wet sock connected between said water container and the measuringend of said thermometer, said wet sock and measuring end extending intosaid channel;

d. said water container extending into said channel so that when saidframe is mounted on the wall a throttling space is created near saidmeasuring end to accelerate the velocity of the air passingtherethrough.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said water container is shaped with atleast one slanting wall to accelerate the velocity of the air in thechannel.

1. A device for measuring the wet temperature of air, particularly in asteam bath, comprising: a. a frame having at least a front face, and twosidewall portions, said frame adapted for mounting on a wall so that thesidewall portions maintain the front face in spaced relationship fromthe wall, said frame carrying a thermometer and a water container withinthe area between the front face and the wall; b. a substantiallyvertical airflow channel bordered by the front face and said sidewallportions; c. a wet sock connected between said water container and themeasuring end of said thermometer, said wet sock and measuring endextending into said channel; d. said water container extending into saidchannel so that when said frame is mounted on the wall a throttlingspace is created near said measuring end to accelerate the velocity ofthe air passing therethrough.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein saidwater container is shaped with at least one slanting wall to acceleratethe velocity of the air in the channel.